Several homeless people head into the National Guard Armory in Fullerton in December 2010 as rain continued to fall.

The homeless wait in line in February 2011 at the California National Guard Armory, which runs its cold weather shelter program for the homeless in Santa Ana.

The homeless wait in the cold and wind in February 2011 to take shelter at the California National Guard Armory, which runs its cold weather shelter program for the homeless in Santa Ana.

Ronald Wayne Looney rests and munches on popcorn before dinner at the California National Guard Armory in Santa Ana in February 2011.

Ronald Wayne Looney spent the day at the Santa Ana Civic Center in February 2011, then took a shuttle, provided by Mercy House, to the California National Guard Armory, pictured. He ate popcorn and drank juice before dinner.

A focused effort in the past year has brought Orange County the closest it has been to realizing a goal of opening a year-round emergency shelter for the homeless, advocates for the homeless and county officials say.

Money has been identified for a site, and potential locations are being scouted, including the old bus terminal in Santa Ana.

The hope is that perhaps as soon as next year, a place will be up and running.

But until then, the homeless who sleep on the street can still find temporary emergency shelter at the county’s two armories to stay warm and dry at night in the winter.

Operators of the Cold-Weather Shelter Program expect that both California National Guard armories in Santa Ana and Fullerton will open as emergency shelters for the homeless Dec. 1, a target date that depends on the military.

“They’re kind of driving the bus on that one,” said Larry Haynes, executive director at Mercy House, the nonprofit contracted to run the armory program.

TEMPORARY SOLUTIONS

In 2011, the armories opened their doors to the homeless on Dec. 1, the first of 132 nights. That winter, the homeless faced the added threat of a serial killer who attacked street people.

In the midst of the killings, the homeless were encouraged to seek safe shelter. That pretty much meant going to the armories, the only countywide “low threshold” emergency shelters, meaning they are available to anybody in need on a first-come, first-served basis.

An offshoot program that began four years ago sends families with children who come seeking shelter at the armories to local motels. Funded by the county’s Children & Families Commission, the United Way and others, the Family Redirection Program includes resources to help find more permanent housing.

Last year, 560 families were given vouchers for temporary stays in motels and provided other housing services.

Haynes said he has been talking to churches about providing emergency shelter for families – perhaps a more suitable atmosphere for children than motels. Money saved could be used to move homeless families more quickly into permanent housing, he added.

“We’ll probably know in a couple of weeks if that will work.”

GOING YEAR-ROUND

The county’s 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness includes year-round emergency shelter as one of nine goals. Several converging factors make it seem like that goal might be attained, Roper said.

She cited the development of the 10-year plan earlier this year, identifying about $4.5 million in county funds to replace the armory program, and a growing sense of urgency among public officials and the private sector to do something.

“All of these things culminating have brought us to a closer point than we’ve ever been,” Roper said.

Theresa Walker is a Southern California native who has been a staff writer at The Orange County Register since 1992. She specializes in human interest stories and social issues, such as homelessness. She also covers nonprofits and philanthropy in Orange County. She loves telling stories about ordinary people who do the extraordinary in their communities.

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